Family of Colorado woman critically injured in apparent road rage shooting "devastated by what has happened"
The family of a woman who was critically hurt in a shooting on Highway 285 in the Colorado foothills this week says they are devastated by what happened. Jefferson County authorities say it's being investigated as a possible case of road rage.
Kassi Moy was shot in the head on Tuesday while she was in an SUV that was being driven by another person. Investigators say the shots were fired by a driver in a different car, a Subaru. That driver was arrested on attempted murder charges and police say he is 56-year-old Matthew Impellitteri. Impellitteri lives close to Highway 285, near the spot where the shooting took place. He appeared in court on Friday and a judge ordered him held in jail on a $1 million cash bond.
According to arrest documents, Impellitteri fired at the SUV after being passed on the right side and speeding up to be parallel with the victim's car. It states he fired two shots at the SUV's window and hit Moy. The documents state Moy's boyfriend told law enforcement Impellitteri sped away after firing and that he tried following him before crashing into a rock on Settlers Drive just off of Highway 285.
Authorities say responding deputies from the Jefferson County Sheriff's Office found Impellitteri walking by himself near the intersection of Settlers Drive and Highway 285 and they took him into custody. When they visited his home they found his Subaru tucked away from his driveway. They also learned he had already deleted surveillance video of when he had returned home after the shooting. Investigators were able to recover that video.
Moy's family says she loves climbing mountains in Colorado. They said they are hopeful that one day she will be able to ascend one again with her dog, but that what happened this week "will affect her physically and emotionally" forever.
Mark Techmeyer, Director of Public Affairs for the Jefferson County Sheriff's Office said he couldn't speak directly about this case, but he said his office is seeing increasingly violent interactions between drivers. He encouraged everyone to be cautious on the road.
"Road rage can be not just the aggressive (people) and so forth, but it's also speed. Dangerous speed," he said.
"We live in a different time. And there used to be the time when someone would send another driver a hand gesture. You don't know what you're getting into these days," Techmeyer said.
The family has started an online fundraiser intended for Kassi's recovery. They also released the following statement:
"The family of Kassi Moy would like to express our deepest gratitude for the outpouring of love, concern, prayers, and support for her and our family. We are devastated by what has happened to our beloved Kassi. We appreciate all of the prayers for her at this critical time.
Kassi is a brilliant, kind, creative, active, and selfless person who has so much life ahead of her. The impact of what happened to her will affect her physically and emotionally for the rest of her life. At this time, she is still listed in critical condition.
All of your support is greatly appreciated. With that, we hope that one day soon Kassi will be able to thank you all from the top of a mountain with her dog, Orbit."
